Melania Trump Returns to the Border, This Time Without Subtext

TUCSON — Melania Trump made her second visit in a week to the border on Thursday as her husband’s administration continued to struggle with the fallout from its “zero tolerance” policies that resulted in the separation of migrant children from their parents.

The first lady met with officials at a Border Patrol office in Tucson and later toured a Department of Homeland Security facility in Phoenix where some of the separated children are being temporarily housed.

“I want to thank you for all your hard work that you do,” Mrs. Trump told the officials in Tucson. “I’m here to support you and give my help, whatever I can for behalf of the children and the families. Thank you for having me.”

President Trump’s crackdown on illegal border crossers in early May led to more than 2,300 children being separated from their families, causing a humanitarian outcry and a political crisis for many of his Republican allies.

Thursday’s trip was Mrs. Trump’s first public appearance since her first border visit was marred by a controversy over her decision to wear a jacket that said “I REALLY DON’T CARE. DO U?” on the back during a visit last week to a Texas border facility.

That fashion choice — which Mrs. Trump’s spokeswoman dismissed as a meaningless decision — overshadowed the first lady’s Texas visit and her effort to demonstrate the Trump administration’s empathy for the plight of the separated children.

Her clothing choices on Thursday were far less controversial: Mrs. Trump arrived in Arizona wearing a black sweater and white slacks for her visit with officials and children.

During the visit to Phoenix, Mrs. Trump toured several classrooms at Southwest Key Campbell, a facility partly funded by the Department of Health and Human Services where children — some of them separated from their parents after crossing the border illegally — are being held.

In one classroom, about 10 boys and girls were making colorful pictures of animals when Mrs. Trump arrived. When she asked the children how old they were, several shouted “Cinco!” in Spanish.

Using the classroom’s teacher as a translator, Mrs. Trump asked: “Do you like it here with some friends?”

“Sí,” one little girl answered.

“Do you like to dance with some music?” Mrs. Trump asked.

The girl shook her head, no.

“They’re honest,” her teacher said.

Mrs. Trump also visited a room where young children ranging in age from 6 months to 2 years were being kept. A marker board on the wall read, “Head count 6.28.2018: 9 little ones.” Four mothers were also in the room.

“Where are the moms?” Mrs. Trump asked. “Where is your baby?” she asked one young woman, who pointed out a boy who was 14 months old. She said they had been at the shelter for 12 days.

“Wow, so cute,” the first lady said.

Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director, told reporters that Mrs. Trump has frequently shared her views about policy issues privately with her husband. But she conceded that Mrs. Trump has been more visible about the family separation issue at the border.

“I would say this is very visible. She cares about children deeply,” Ms. Grisham said. “She also believes in strong border laws and treating everybody equally.”

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A12 of the New York edition with the headline: First Lady Returns to Border, This Time Without Subtext. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe